Rectangular conductor harness means and attachments



Aug. 6, 1966 D. G. BAER ET AL 3,267,410

CTOR HARNESS MEANS AND ATTACHMENTS RECTANGULAR CONDU Original FiledSept. 28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS 00mm 6. BMW AHan S. Van filyimRobert C. Wooffw Aug. 16, 1966 D. G. BAER ET AL 3,267,410

RECTANGULAR CONDUCTOR HARNESS MEANS AND ATTACHMENTS Original Filed Sept,28, 1961 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS Donald 6. Beer Allan $.Van SlykeRobert C. Wooffer Thlr Arney 3,257,4klh Ice Patented August 16, 19663,267,410 RECTANGULAR CONDUCTOR HARNESS MEANS AND ATTACHMENTS Donald G.Beer, Girard, Allan S. Van glyke, Southington,

and Robert C. Woofter, Cortland, ()hio, assignors to General MotorsCorporation, Detroit, Mich, a corporation of Delaware Qriginalapplication ept. 28, 1961, Ser. No. 141,483.

Divided and this application Aug. 30, E65, Ser.

2 (Ilairns. (Cl. 339-434) This is a division of copending parentapplication S.N. 141,483, Baer et al., filed Sept. 28, 1961, now Patent3,226,668, Baer et al., issued Dec. 28, 1965, and belonging to theassignee of the present invention.

This invention relates to wiring and electrical connections and, moreparticularly, to a rectangular conductor harness means and attachmentsfor vehicle use.

An object of this invention is to provide a new and improved approach toautomotive wiring to save space and reduce number and thickness ofattachments and components including switches and terminal means for usetherewith representing a transition from rounded conductors in vehiclewiring harness means to flattened generally rectangular-shapedconductors more efficient to use.

Another object of this invention is to provide rectangular-shapedconductors in parallel though separably insulated association as aunitary solid fiat configuration with predetermined surfacing exposableby stripping as well as window-like cutouts to gain proper electricalconnection thereto directly free of any intermediate terminal means inpredetermined locations of the insulated flat conductors which can alsohave single terminal contact an choring holes, dimples as well astang-like pierced deformations integral therewith adjacent to endsthereof.

Another object of this invention is to provide electrical energizationby means including in part a flat conductor itself and in part a singleterminal means adapted to fit in mating engagement directly therewith insandwiched relation thereto and optionally having a wafer-likepolarizing layer of insulation between predetermined flat conductors forterminal means engagement.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings wherein preferred embodiments of the present invention areclearly shown.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is an exploded perspective view of another rectangularconductor harness means and attachments also in accordance with thepresent invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line -5 in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 3 is a side view of terminal means shown in FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 4 is an end view of terminal means shown in FIGURES 5 and 6.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded perspective view of an insulated rectangularflat cable to a connector clip such as for a radio speaker connection inaccordance with the present invention.

Motor vehicle manufacturers have produced bodies equipped with Wiringmeans utilizing rounded conductors which can be grouped as a harnessprovided with a tapelike covering and the like. Such rounded conductorsas grouped into a harness can effect transfer of electric power tovarious electrical devices and switching means to which the wirin gharness and conductor means can be routed generally in concealedpositions between inner and outer panels of doors as well as betweensupports such as door jambs and vehicle upholstery and metal body panelsincluding fenders and the like. There is a continuing trend in bodyconstruction in modification of vehicle bodies to to increase strengththereof while reducing thickness or spacing between components. Futurevehicles will also be provided with thinner door means that provide lessspace between inner and outer panels thus requiring new types of switchmeans and accessory devices due to limited space from a point of view ofthickness between such mounting anels. In some instances a transitionwill be made by provision of both rounded as well as flattened insulatedconductors and wiring means between which electrical interconnectionmust be established so that flattened conductor means or substantiallyrectangularshaped insulated wiring harness means can be used where spaceaccommodations are narrower and cannot permit placement and fitting ofround conductors in grouped relation as tape-covered harness meanspreviously used.

FIGURE 1 illustrates another rectangular conductor harness meansgenerally indicated by numeral. and including flattened or generallyrectangular-shaped wires or conductors 71, 72 and 73 having an extrudedinsulating cover 74 of thermoplastic material thereon. Each of theseflattened conductors includes fiat-like or folded over end portions 71E,72E and 73E as well as apertures 71A, 72A and 73A, respectively. Forpolarizing purposes there is a web-like portion or insert means 75 ofplastic material which traverses space between the flattened wires orconductors 72 and 73 and this web-like portion 75 is held in positionbetween flattened conductors 72-73 as well as the bent back ends72E-73E, respectively, as indicated in FIGURE 1. Between the flattenedconductors '71 and 72 there is a longitudinally or axially extendingslot 76 adapted to complement a partition or notch-ed wall 77 adjacentto an open end 78 of a body or housing of insulating material generallyindicated by numeral 79.

A terminal means generally indicated by numeral 89 and illustrated in across sectional view of FIGURE 2 can be provided in each of severalpassages terminating in the open end 78 of the body or housing 79 ofinsulating material. Each single terminal means it includes a main bodyportion 81 having pairs of crimping wings 82 and 83 adjacent to an endthereof for engaging an insulated conductor or wire W indicated inFIGURE 2. At an o posite end of each body portion 81 there can be a pairof laterally extending J-shaped arm portions 84 and 85 each terminatingin free ends spaced a small distance from each other. One of these armportions such as 85 includes a tang or tab 86 struck therefrom andprojecting into this space between the free ends and adapted to beengageable in an aperture or hole such as indicated by referencenumerals 71A, 72A as well as 73A of the bent over ends of the flattenedconductors of the wiring harness means 70. The free ends of theresilient arms 84 and 85 terminate adjacent to an edge 87 of the bodyportion 31 which can include a pair of projections such as a prong 88and a flange 89 located integrally adjacent to ends of the arm portions84 and 85 where the latter join the body portion 81. The flattenedwiring harness means 71] is adapted to fit into the open end 78 of theinsulating housing such that the slot 76 between flattened conductors71-72 is located substantially longitudinally in alignment with thenotched wall 77 and the web-like portion 75 serves as an abstructionagainst sticking of the flattened wiring harness means 70 in a manner soas to have the web-like portion 75 longitudinally in alignment with thenotched wall 77. The prong 88 of the terminal means 80 is adapted tohave a free end thereof abut against a projection 79F and the flange 89fits against a transverse wall or offset portion 79T as shown in FIGURE2. The bent over ends of each of the flattened conductors 71, 72 and 73fit in sandwich-like relationship between the free ends of the resilientarms 84-85 of the terminal means 80 and the edge 87 along one side ofthe body portion 81 of each of the terminal means serves as a limit orstop for insertion of the blade-like flattened conductors 71, 72 and 73.Views of FIGURES 3 and 4 show the terminal means 80 per se without anyhousing of insulating material such as 79.

In addition to use of a single type of terminal means in an insulatinghousing to establish interconnection between rounded and flattenedconductors, there are instances in the wiring system of a motor vehiclewherein a pair of flattened wiring harness means must be interconnected.Reference is made to disclosure as to original views of FIGURES 8 and 9in parent disclosure S.N. 141,483, filed Sept. 28, 1961, now Patent3,226,628, Baer et al., issued Dec. 28, 1965, for such interconnectionalso.

In FIGURE there is a showing of a single conductor 166 of insulatedrectangular cable 167 having a windowlike cutout 168 transverselyadjacent to an end thereof provided with a bridge portion 169 ofinsulating material. A tab-like downwardly bent tang portion 166T can beprovided in a location adjacent to a bridge portion 169 for insertion ina connector means generally indicated by numeral 170 having a bodyportion 171 and opposite wings 172 projecting laterally and inwardlytherewith to define an entry space 173 generally rectangular inconfiguration to complement the insulated slot conductor means 167 suchthat the bridge portion 169 is slidably forced into sandwiched relationbetween the body portion 71 and an arcuate or curved rearwardly foldedend portion 174 of the connector means 170. A tang-like projection 175struck from the curved end portion 174 can fit in complementaryengagement with the depression resulting from deformation of the flatconductor 166 at tang portion 166T thereof. The body portion 171includes a laterally projecting flange or tab 176 having an aperture orhole 177 therein to receive a fastening means such as a rivet, screw andthe like to mount the connector means 170 as a radio speaker connection,for example, adapted to receive a rectangular flat cable conductor suchas 166 having insulation thereon.

Reference is made to disclosure of copending applications SN. 315,081filed Oct. 9, 1963 and SN. 439,847 filed Mar. 15, 1965 as to otherportions of the parent disclosure related to the present subject.

It is to be noted that differing cross sectional sizes of conductorsflattened and insulated in accordance with the present invention can beprovided for the purpose of carrying various electrical current loads.It is possible also to provide insulation of diflering colors aroundindividual though parallel flat strip-like conductors adapted to bejoined to each other and adapted to be interconnected with variouselectrical devices and switching means in proper relationship with eachother.

While the embodiments of the present invention herein disclosedconstitute preferred forms, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted.

What is claimed is as follows:

' 1. Connector means for a conductor harness means to fit in narrowpassages of a motor vehicle body and having a plurality of flattenedrectangular-shaped conductors substantially co-planar and parallel witheach other joined together by a thin covering of insulating materialsurrounding each of the flattened conductors longitudinally thereof aswell as edge to edge therebetween, comprising, a housing means having apredetermined passage therein for conductor and terminal accessibilityas well as having transverse abutment means integrally therewith, saidpassage on one end of said housing means having termination into atleast one rectangular opening into which said conductor harness meansper se fits substantially complementary directly to said housing means,predetermined terminal means having location at least adjacent to theopening of said housing means and having a substantially bow-shapedcontact as well as at least one free-ended tang, and contact surfacingof said flattened rectangular-shaped harness means conductors per selaterally exposed at least on only one side thereof which is engaged'bysaid predetermined terminal means bowshaped contact directly, saidhousing and terminal means being integrally formed individuallycomplementary to one of the conductors, said bow-shaped contactincluding a curved end portion having a tang-like projection struckinwardly therefrom, the one of the conductors also having a tang portionstruck laterally complementary to said tang-like projection.

2. Connector means for a conductor harness means to fit in narrowpassages of a motor vehicle body and having a plurality of flattenedrectangular-shaped conductors substantially co-planar and parallel witheach other joined by a thin covering of insulating material surroundingeach of the flattened conductors longitudinally thereof as well as edgeto edge therebetween, comprising, a housing means having a predeterminedpassage therein for conductor and terminal accessibility as Well ashaving transverse abutment means integrally therewith, said passage onone end of said housing means having termination into at least onerectangular opening into which said conductor harness means per se fitssubstantially complementary directly to said housing means predeterminedterminal means having location at least adjacent to the opening of saidhousing means and having substantially bow-shaped contact means as wellas at least one free-ended tang, and contact surfacing of said flattenedrectangular-shaped harness means conductors per se laterally exposed atleast on only one side thereof which is engaged by said predeterminedterminal means bow-shaped contact means directly, said housing andterminal means being individually complementary collectively to one ofthe flattened conductors, said bowshaped contact means including a pairof opposite curved end portions each collectively having substantiallyface to face J-shaped arm formation included in extension integrallywith said pair of opposite curved end portions which together in pairsengage said one of the flattened conductors longitudinally thereof whichhas laterally complementary interfit therebetween, said free-end tangbeing a prong bent laterally outwardly from one of said pair of oppositecurved end portions and engageable against said housing means internallythereof to oppose movement therefrom in one direction, a flange bentlaterally outwardly from said remaining opposite curved end portion in adirection opposite to that of said prong to oppose movement from saidhousing means in an opposite direction, each of said pair of oppositecurved end portions having complementary fit in alignment with one ofthe flattened conductors that collectively are maintained parallel toeach other by said thin covering of insulating material having a slotlongitudinally therein between a pair of flattened conductors per se tocomplement a notched wall adjacent to an open end of said housing meansinto which laterally'exposed conductors per se fit in between saidcontact surfacing.

(References on following page) References Citefi by the Examiner UNITEDSTATES PATENTS Richards 339-205 X Jackson et a1. 339-17 X 5 Schultz339-176 X Juris 339-17 X Kirk 339-176 X Braeutigan 339-17 X Leach339-205 X Woofter et al. 229-91 X EDWARD C. ALLEN, Primary Examiner. W.DONALD MILLER, Examiner.

1. CONNECTOR MEANS FOR A CONDUCTOR HARNESS MEANS TO FIT IN A NARROWPASSAGES OF A MOTOR VEHICLE BODY AND HAVING A PLURALITY OF FLATTENEDRECTANGULAR-SHAPED CONDUCTORS SUBSTANTIALLY CO-PLANAR AND PARALLEL WITHEACH OTHER JOINED TOGETHER BY A THIN COVERING OF INSULATING MATERIALSURROUNDING EACH OF THE FLATTENED CONDUCTORS LONGITUDINALLY THEREOF ASWELL AS EDGE TO EDGE THEREBETWEEN, COMPRISING, A HOUSING MEANS HAVING APREDETERMINED PASSAGE THEREIN FOR CONDUCTOR AND TERMINAL ACCESSIBILITYAS WELL AS HAVING TRANSVERSE ABUTMENT MEANS INTEGRALLY THEREWITH, SAIDPASSAGE ON ONE END OF SAID HOUSING MEANS HAVING TERMINATION INTO ATLEAST ONE RECTANGULAR OPENING INTO WHICH SAID CONDUCTOR HARNESS MEANSPER SE FITS SUBSTANTIALLY COMPLEMENTARY DIRECTLY TO SAID HOUSING MEANS,PREDETERMINED TERMINAL MEANS HAVING LOCATION AT LEAST ADJACENT TO THEOPENING OF SAID HOUSING MEANS AND HAVING A SUBSTANTIALLY BOW-SHAPEDCONTACT AS WELL AS AT LEAST ONE FREE-ENDED TANG, AND CONTACT SURFACINGOF SAID FLATTENED RECTANGULAR-SHAPED HARNESS MEANS CONDUCTORS PER SELAT-